Reference values of cadmium concentration in the hair of residents of the Gornyi Altai

Abstract

Introduction. There is a global trend of increasing the Cd level of the environment because of enlarged compounds content in the industry, agriculture (cadmium-phosphate fertilizers), burning solid and liquid fuels, and solid household waste. Data on the quantitative accumulation of Cd in human hair in various regions of Russia is necessary to determine Cd content reference value to evaluate the degree of its excess among the population. Material and methods. The Cd content in the hair of the population of Gorno-Altaisk was determined by atomic absorption spectrometry to evaluate regional values to compare them with the all-Russian reference data. Results. The average value of Cd concentration in the hair of the population of Gorno-Altaisk was 0.16 mg/kg; according to this index value, the excess was found in 34.9% of residents, relative to the all - Russian index - in 54.5%. Deviations from the upper limits of the biologically acceptable level were 6.5% and 1.6%, respectively. Discussion. The study results coincide with the literature data on reference values and excess of the local populaton’s biologically acceptable level compared with other regions. There is a low probability of Cd ingestion with food and drinking water in concentrations exceeding acceptable values. Universal sources of Cd human body intake (solid-fuel heating systems, internal combustion engines) determine a homogeneous picture of Cd accumulation in the hair in the Gornyi Altai population in Altai and other regions. Conclusion. The reference values of Cd content in the hair of residents of the administrative center of the Altai Republic correspond to the average values in the variation range of different regions, and the percentage of people who exceed the permissible level among the population of Gorno-Altaisk also does not differ from other industrial regions.